Lesson Plan: For Teachers: Preventing Separation Through Bilingualism

To explore the impact of the Quebec separatist movement on Canadian politics in the 1960s

Summary:

Students will explore the early Quebec separatist movement and how it influenced government policy.

Lesson Plan

Before
Exploring

Lead a class discussion on Quebec separatism. Ask: Why is
there a movement to separate from Canada? What would separation mean to Canada?
Do you think two cultures and languages can live together and both grow and
flourish?

Outline the Opportunity

On the topic The Road to Bilingualism on the CBC Digital Archives website, have students study the clips "Laurendeau and Dunton", "Quebecers
split on bilingualism", "Anglophone Quebecers keep their culture", "Laurendeau
discusses separatism, 1961," "B & B a good idea: Tommy Douglas, Jean
Lesage," and "Laurendeau memoirs released".

Students will use their research to
write an opinion paper about the probable effectiveness of the B & B
Commission in forestalling a separatist movement in Quebec. Students should
include a short summary to present to the class.

Revisit and Reflect

Prepare
a T-chart on the board or chart paper. Title the chart "Bilingualism and
Biculturalism Commission: Preventing Separation," and title the columns
"Effective" and "Ineffective." Have students share their summaries with the
class, and identify their positions on the T-chart. As a class, analyze the
results of the chart.

Extension

Students
can discuss with a partner their willingness to learn the other official
language. What advantages might they gain with that skill? How might their
bilingualism work toward a more united Canada? Together, pairs can prepare a
poster, an advertisement, or an outline for a media campaign supporting
bilingualism.